There’s never a bad time to boost HVAC efficiency. More than 76 percent of all the electricity used in the United States goes towards controlling the climate of residential and commercial buildings. Unfortunately, 25 to 40 percent of that energy is wasted, according the U.S. Department of Energy. Increasing HVAC efficiency can not only reduce energy consumption, but provide substantial savings on energy bills. 

One way to increase HVAC efficiency is by installing ENERGY STAR technologies that can reduce residential energy consumption by at least 30 percent and reduce commercial energy consumption by more than 20 percent. You can increase your HVAC efficiency by sealing air leaks and improving insulation.

Instead of purchasing an entire new HVAC system, you can take actions to boost your energy efficiency, such as including regular maintenance and cleaning. 

HVAC maintenance and HVAC system cleaning boosts energy efficiency and reduces climate control costs because it improves air flow, promotes fan function and supports better heat transfer. A contaminated HVAC system must work harder to heat and cool a building, while its overall lifespan is shortened. While some cleaning tasks can be performed by property owners and operators, others are best left to professional HVAC technicians. 

Interested in what HVAC cleaning activities can best increase your system’s energy efficiency? Below are 4 ways to clean and maintain your HVAC system, help boost energy efficiency, reduce environmental impact and lower power bills.

1. Regular Maintenance

Any equipment featuring mechanical parts will eventually wear down and fall into disrepair. By scheduling an annual or semi-annual HVAC maintenance check, you can ensure potential problems are addressed before they become major issues. An HVAC technician can identify small problems like damage and leaks and identify areas to reduce energy consumption. The professional can also conduct basic cleaning of debris that has accumulated inside the unit and replace any electrical or moving parts that display excess wear. 

2. Changing Air Filters

While it’s a common rule of thumb to change an HVAC system’s air filters seasonally, they can be cleaned or replaced as often as monthly for the best energy efficiency. When filters are dirty or clogged, the HVAC system will need to run longer to achieve desired climate control, which in turn requires more power. Clean air filters also help prevent excess dirt and debris from accumulating within in the system.

3. Cleaning Ducts and Vents

There’s more to an HVAC system than units and thermostats. Furnaces and air conditioners control the climate in a building by distributing air through a series of ducts and vents – all which routinely accumulate dust and grime. After all, the return air filter is the only barrier between an HVAC system and the surrounding environment, and contaminants can enter through tiny cracks in the ductwork and microscopic gaps in air filters. Cleaning HVAC ducts can boost efficiency so much that it can reduce energy bills by as much as 37 percent, while also significantly reducing allergens and increasing overall air quality. 

4. Cleaning Coils, Fans, Cabinets and Other HVAC Components

Changing air filters and cleaning ductwork can help protect HVAC equipment from excess dust, dirt and debris. However, eventually the system’s internal components will need cleaned as well. A professional can clean the HVAC system’s various coils, fans, condensers, dampers, humidifiers and other internal components, while also cleaning debris that has accumulated around, inside and on top of the equipment’s case.

Motili’s customers can take advantage of regular HVAC system maintenance and cleaning. Motili’s preventative maintenance programs help ensure HVAC systems are operating at peak efficiency and performance, while they’ve also been shown to increase resident satisfaction by double digits. Plus, the Motili Asset Condition Index is an HVAC asset indexing system that can predict needed maintenance and equipment failure before performance issues are even identified. 

Advanced reporting and analytics help property owners and operators understand their HVAC efficiencies and how they can better optimize their heating and cooling equipment, thereby reducing both energy bills and environmental impact. The Motili HVAC Efficiency Tool provides customers in the real estate industry with the means to calculate the carbon emissions associated with their HVAC operations. The information, including data like the energy cost savings per unit over 10 years and their percentage of decreased energy use, can help them truly to appreciate the environmental impact of controlling the climate within their properties.